Desired by Three Alphas, Fated to One

Chapter 13: The Price of a Choice

The night air still hummed with Selene’s power long after the circle broke apart.

Most of the elders had left in tense silence, their faces grim, but the whispers had already begun. By the time Selene and Kael returned to the great hall, she could feel the storm brewing.

“They’ll come for us,” Kael said quietly as he closed the door behind them.

Selene sank into the chair near the fire, her mark still warm against her skin. “Let them,” she said. “I won’t hide.”

Kael’s jaw tightened. “Selene, you don’t understand. This isn’t just political fallout — this is blood feud. You just turned down two Alpha lines. The Bloodfang heir has been waiting to claim you since the prophecy was first spoken. You think he’ll just accept this?”

“I don’t care what he accepts,” Selene said, her voice sharper than she meant. “I care that for once, I did something for me.”

Kael exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I know. And I’m proud of you. But now we prepare for the cost.”

Before Selene could respond, a hard knock echoed on the door.

Kael’s wolf bristled instantly. He opened the door only enough to see who stood outside — then swung it wide.

Lucian strode in, golden eyes blazing like molten fire.

“You really did it,” he said.

Selene stood, her fingers curling into fists. “I told you I would.”

Lucian’s gaze cut to Kael, his lip curling slightly. “You’ve doomed her. Do you know how many packs were watching tonight? You’ve just united every rival Alpha against you.”

Kael didn’t flinch. “Then let them come.”

Lucian turned back to Selene, his expression shifting from fury to something sharper, colder. “You think this is about romance? About your little declaration under the moon? This is war now, Selene. And when it starts, every drop of blood spilled will be on your hands.”

Selene stepped closer, until she was barely an arm’s length away. “Then let it be on my hands,” she said. “Because I’d rather start a war than spend the rest of my life being owned.”

Lucian stared at her for a long, long moment. His jaw worked once, then he gave a humorless laugh.

“You really are her,” he said finally. “The Moon’s true heir. The one the prophecies warned about. You’ll burn the world before you let anyone hold you.”

His expression hardened again, but there was something almost sad in his eyes. “When the first blood is spilled, I won’t be able to protect you anymore.”

“I never asked you to,” Selene said softly.

Lucian’s gaze lingered on her for a heartbeat longer, then he turned and left, his cloak snapping behind him like the crack of a whip.

The door closed, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

Selene exhaled, only realizing now how tightly she’d been holding her breath. Kael crossed the room and rested his hands on her shoulders.

“You were perfect,” he said softly. “Strong. Unshaken.”

“I was terrified,” Selene admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kael’s thumb brushed over her jaw. “Being afraid doesn’t make you weak. It means you still have something to lose.”

Selene’s throat tightened. She leaned into him for just a moment, letting the warmth of his presence steady her racing heart.

---

But there was no time to rest.

By morning, riders arrived from neighboring packs, demanding an audience. The great hall filled with shouting voices, the air thick with anger.

“She cannot choose Kael!” one Alpha snarled, his wolf aura flaring. “The Bloodfang line was promised her hand!”

“She was never promised to anyone,” Kael growled back.

Another Alpha stood, her silver hair glinting in the sunlight. “This is not just a mating bond — this is a shift in power. If Selene stands with you, your pack controls three territories instead of one. The balance will break.”

Selene rose from her seat at the head of the table, her mark still glowing faintly against her skin. “Then maybe the balance needs breaking.”

The room went silent.

“You keep talking about me like I’m some treaty,” Selene said, her voice ringing through the hall. “I am not a bargain. I am not a weapon. And I will not be passed from one Alpha to another because it keeps the peace. You want to fight? Then fight me. But stop pretending this is about the packs. This is about control.”

Her power flared again, rattling the windows, making the very air thrum with energy. Several Alphas flinched back, their wolves instinctively lowering their heads.

Kael stood beside her, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his blade. His presence was a promise — anyone who tried to touch her would meet him first.

Finally, Elder Malric rose, his expression grim. “You’ve made your point,” he said. “But you’d better be ready to defend it. If you cannot unite the packs, they will unite against you.”

Selene lifted her chin. “Then let them come.”

---

That night, the first attack came.

The warning howl split the air just after moonrise. Selene jolted awake, Kael already on his feet, sword in hand.

“They’re here,” he said, his voice like steel.

Selene’s heart pounded as they ran for the courtyard. Flames licked the night sky where torches had been thrown against the gates. Shadows moved just beyond the walls — wolves, dozens of them.

Kael’s warriors were already forming ranks, their eyes glowing with battle-light.

Selene stood at Kael’s side, her power surging under her skin, begging to be unleashed.

“This is what they wanted,” Kael said, glancing at her. “They want to scare you into giving up your claim. They want you to run.”

Selene’s silver eyes burned. “Then let’s show them I’m done running.”

She stepped forward, lifting her hands.

The moonlight bent toward her, silver light pouring into her veins until she glowed like a living star. The wolves beyond the gates hesitated, snarling uneasily.

Selene’s voice rang out over the night.

“This is your last warning!” she shouted. “Leave now — or face me!”

The ground trembled as her power hit the earth, sending a shockwave through the courtyard. The flames of the torches snuffed out, leaving only the silver light of the moon illuminating her.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then the shadows began to retreat, melting back into the forest one by one until the night was still again.

Selene’s knees nearly gave out, but Kael caught her, steadying her against his chest.

“You just sent half a dozen Alpha warriors running,” he said, a note of wonder in his voice.

Selene looked up at him, exhaustion making her eyes heavy but fierce. “Good,” she whispered. “Let them tell the others what they saw tonight.”

Kael’s mouth curved into a sharp, proud smile. “Oh, they will.”

---

But far away, beyond the forest, Lucian stood watching from the shadows, his golden eyes reflecting the moonlight.

“She’s stronger than I thought,” he murmured.

A figure stepped up beside him — one of the rival Alphas, their expression grim.

“Then we strike harder,” the Alpha said. “Before she learns just how powerful she can become.”

Lucian didn’t answer. His jaw clenched, and for the first time, doubt flickered in his gaze.